News
November 2007
Older people less aware of online risks
A report has shown that older people are less aware of the risks of using the internet than younger people. The research was conducted by Get Safe Online, a Government-supported campaign to raise awareness of how to protect yourself from online crime. It found that:
- 51 per cent of those over 65 do not use a privacy setting for social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, potentially exposing personal information to criminals
- 29 per cent of 55 to 64 year olds say they know nothing about internet security
- 51 per cent of people over 65 use a single password for all the websites they use
The Get Safe Online awareness week is from 12 to 16 November. There are roadshow events on 13, 14 and 15 November where you can get advice about online security.
There is also straightforward guidance on reducing the risks and an online test to check how safe you are at the moment on the Get Safe Online website.